Lance Avery Morgan
The Two Billion Dollar Barbie World Machine Makes The World Happier…And Pinker
By Lance Avery Morgan Photography courtesy of Barbie: The World Tour by Margot Robbie and Andrew Mukamal (Rizzoli New York ©2024)
Let’s face it: Barbie is the unexpected runaway success of the decade so far. For the press tour following the record-breaking release of Greta Gerwig’s award-winning, acclaimed Barbie movie, producer and star Margot Robbie and her stylist Andrew Mukamal immersed themselves in some of Barbie’s most iconic outfits and curated vintage pieces, then approached designers, from Giorgio Armani to Donatella Versace, to create looks inspired by the doll-size originals.
That’s why Barbie™: The World Tour (ISBN: 9780789345578, $55.00 US, Rizzoli New York), a new illustrated book capturing all the glamour and high style of the most popular doll in the world is a hit as much as the movie. Think of it as an extended version of the film with its lush fashion and dreamy photography, shall we?
Many of these looks were not seen as the official Barbie press tour was cut short—so Margot and Andrew worked with renowned fashion photographer Craig McDean to shoot her in the looks exactly as they were curated: Schiaparelli in Los Angeles, Vivienne Westwood in London, vintage Chanel with matching Steamline luggage at the airport, and beyond.
“This book is the culmination of tens of thousands of hours of work by some of the most talented and creative visionaries and designers on Earth,” says Mukamal. “Margot and I felt compelled to share this with the world. We hope you love it as much as we do.”
Accompanying McDean’s sumptuous photography are images of original Barbie dolls from the period, a treasure trove of rare materials from Mattel’s Barbie fashion archives, and the designers’ sketches and Polaroids from fittings, layered into evocative collage by art director Fabien Baron. With text by Robbie and Mukamal, as well as handwritten contributions from the designers behind the looks (from Olivier Rousteing and Michelle Ochs to Manolo Blahnik and Jeremy Scott), this unique book blends the serious chic of high fashion with the serious fun of Barbie’s world—the dolls, the history, and the style that have captured imaginations for 65 years.
So what are you waiting for? Buy a copy for yourself and every other Barbie fan you know.
